Exhibition on archaeological heritage in the Red Zone of Baghdad

The Iraqi-Polish Co-operation in Central South Iraq 2003-2006” was organized by Larsa – Human Right Organization, an Iraqi NGO in cooperation with the Polish Embassy on the 10th September. The venue of the event was the Babylon Hotel, located in the so-called Red Zone of Baghdad. The basic aim of this public presentation intended for the inhabitants of the Iraqi capital was to increase awareness of importance of the Iraqi archaeological heritage, to show its present status in Central South part of Iraq and to outline the Polish contribution to its protection.

The exhibition consists of 28 display-boards (1,20 x 0,90 m) prepared by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage:
- Iraq – archaeology of war tragedy – one board
- Babylon – the gate of Gods – eight boards
- Kish (Tell al-Ingharra, Tell al-Okhaymir) – the city of the two deities – three boards
- Djemdet Nasr – two boards
- Nippur – a city of a clay map – three boards
- Ukhaydir – a nameless stronghold in a desert – one board
- Marad (Wanah as-Sadoum) – archaeologists come back to excavations – two boards
- Planes over the ruins – the history of the aerial photography used in the Middle East archaeology – four boards
- Polish actions in favour of the protection of cultural heritage within the stabilization mission in Iraq (2003 – 2006) – four boards.
The presentation lasted from 10 a.m. to 15 p.m. and was visited by over 60 guests including journalists and reporters from seven Iraqi TV channels based in Baghdad. Representatives of the Iraqi Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Human Rights as well as the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage were also present.